Description given with photo: "Hughes and Slack Huddle, Washington, D.C.: Howard Hughes (right) and his attorney, T.A. Slack (left) of the Hughes Tool Co., huddle over questions Hughes and prepared to ask Sen. Owen Brewster (R. ME.) at today's hearing before the Senate War Investigating Subcommittee. Creditline (ACME) 8/7/47."
Materials contain photographs of the HK-1 Hercules, otherwise known as the "Spruce Goose" or the "Flying Boat," from 1945 to 1947. The photographs primarily depict the construction, transportation, and storage of the plane, but also include the first and only test flight of the HK-1 above Los Angeles Harbor in 1947. Howard Hughes designed the HK-1 as the world's largest plane, capable of transporting large quantities of U.S. military hardware and personnel. In 1947, under the program's new designation H-4 Hercules, Hughes had the plane transported from his factory in Culver City, California to Los Angeles Harbor. On November 2, he piloted the plane during its only test flight. The U.S. Air Force abandoned the controversial project, and Hughes was called to testify before the Truman Committee of the U.S. Senate to justify the use of government funds on a program that never succeeded.
Archival Collection
Howard Hughes Public Relations Photograph Collection
Description given with photo: "Hughes And Attorney At Inquiry, Washington: Howard Hughes (left) and T.A. Slack, attorney for the Hughes Tool Company, are shown at the August 6th hearing of the Senate War Investigating Subcommittee. Credit (ACME) 8/9/47."
Howard Hughes (in white shirt) supervises construction of the Hughes D-2 at the Hughes Aircraft Company. in Culver City, California. The D-2 was the prototype of the XF-11.
A view of Howard Hughes sitting with two unidentified men in the back of a car, likely being driven to a New York hotel, after landing the Lockheed 14 at Floyd Bennett Field.